Posted Tuesday June 22, 2010 - 12.45pm

By Brenton Garen

A multi-million dollar home at 513 Rodeo Drive caught fire at about 10.45am on Tuesday morning leaving several rooms badly damaged.

Beverly Hills Fire and Police departments were quick to respond to a 911 call placed by the owner who was at the home with her family at the time.

BHFD Battalion Chief Ed Snyder said his crew battled the fire for 30 minutes before it was extinguished.

“On arrival, we found heavy smoke and fire showing out of windows and doorway on the north side of the building,” Snyder said.

“We proceeded to do fire tact and ventilation and search and rescue of the building. Everyone got out.”

A friend of the homeowner, who wanted to remain anonymous at this time, said it appeared the fire had started in the sauna located next to the kitchen on the lower level.

She said the sauna was hardly ever used by the family and they did not know how it could have started.

When the home owner saw smoke billowing from the sauna, she called 911 and evacuated her family from the house.

Snyder said his department had launched an investigation to determine the cause.

“I only know at this point that the fire started in the first floor of the building,” he said.

“The fire apparently burned up several rooms on the first floor.”

The Courier will bring you more on this story as details emerge.